Circle Sea 1: The Pirate Maze

Chapter 21: Odin's Stronghold

Darnell's schoolhouse had always been an exciting place to visit because of the fascinating treasures that he had collected on his many travels. The stronghold on Gannets' Island contained a similar collection of strange and exciting objects, but Jim and Polly had never seen so many oddities brought together in one place.

It was a huge octagonal room constructed from large and irregular stone blocks. There were shelves and tables heaving with books, boxes and assorted clutter. Crates, caskets and trunks were piled high into mountainous heaps which looked as if they might fall at any moment.

At the centre of the room was a round stone well which looked a little out of place, and a strange collection of lanterns were hung from the ceiling. These seemed to come on by themselves as the group entered and they all gaped in wonder at their discovery.

The doorway remained open and they could still see the cavern beyond thanks to the flickering lamplight. Fortunately, there was no sign of any stone barrier which might close suddenly or trap them inside.

Pike hopped from foot to foot in an excited way. He moved magpie-like around the room, lifting things up to look at them better. He found some old charts and held them up against the light to have a better look before dropping them again to examine a heavily patterned china tea set.

Meg practically purred as she inspected a row of old swords which had been carefully arranged in a glass display case. She took one out and began to try it, testing its weight and balance. She swung the sword at some old red drapes and sliced out a small triangular hole.

Drooley walked slowly around the room, picking up some of the larger or more valuable looking objects. A golden sphinx caught his attention and he held it lovingly in his arms.

Captain Mercy grinned and cackled as he inspected each item in turn. He lifted up an old clock and looked carefully at the maker's mark before tutting and putting it back down again. He then flicked through a couple of old books and blew the dust from several bottles. There was a strange pair of wire-framed glasses which he tried on for size. He seemed happy with the result and left them sitting on the end of his nose.

Jim, Polly and Mike were equally excited to be in the room even though they were technically prisoners. They were careful not to get in the way of the pirates but couldn't resist the temptation to have a look at the contents of this mysterious place. Polly found a mirror which seemed to show a reflection of the stronghold without anybody in it. Jim picked up an odd red fountain pen and popped it into his pocket. Mike started looking in a few small drawers and was surprised to find a collection of dead butterflies.

Elizabeth stood at the centre of the room and watched the others explore. She had a sad look on her face and continued to play with the amber necklace that hung around her neck.

Darnell came over and stood by her side. He looked down into the well and whistled.

'It's dark down there,' he said thoughtfully. 'Practically bottomless I would have thought... I wouldn't like to lose anything down there anyway...'

He turned and watched the group as they worked their way around the room. He smiled as Pike played with a tiny wooden toy which seemed to consist of a little man on a string who could be lowered head down into an open barrel.

'Can you see what you're looking for?' he asked loudly.

'Oh, I'm sure it's all good,' the Captain replied as he turned a pack of cards over in his hands.

'You know the story behind the stronghold of course?' the teacher continued.

'Irrelevant...' muttered the pirate.

'They say that a Viking warrior built it many centuries ago. He wanted to keep something safe from the gods themselves. Legend says it was some kind of weapon.'

The Captain grunted in a disinterested way as he opened a small wooden box and looked inside. He made a disgusted face and closed it again.

'He persuaded Odin, the chief God, to weave a spell around the room using a needle made from a splinter from his own iron shield.'

Mercy grunted again.

'Now the needle, as you know, acts as a key which enables the person who is holding it to come and go whenever they want to. That Viking warrior planned to trick Odin. He told the old god that he would throw the the needle into the bottomless well so that the room would be closed forever and the other gods would never be able to get in.'

'A silly idea,' muttered the Captain. 'He would have been trapped in here forever. What an idiot...'

He was now looking at some old charts which had been pinned to the wall.

'Well, he had a good eye and was a particularly good shot,' Darnell continued in his teacherly voice. 'He said he would throw it in from the doorway. Of course, the warrior then played a trick on Odin. He encased the needle in an amber heart with a protective charm so powerful that even the mightiest of the gods couldn't hurt him. He lived to a grand old age and died a rich and happy man... or so they say...'

'Why did he do it?' Elizabeth asked quietly while the Captain continued to rummage through the piles of junk.

Darnell shrugged.

'I guess he didn't want to give up whatever it was he wanted to hide, and he did gain an impregnable store room... Either way he outwitted the gods themselves so he's a great hero to the Vikings.'

Elizabeth was fingering the amber heart around her neck as she listened. It was sparkling in a strange way, almost as if light was shining from somewhere inside.

'But letting go is important,' Darnell said, to no-one in particular. 'If the old warrior had been able to let go back then, the room would no longer exist and generations of crooks and tyrants would not have been able to use it as their own personal storeroom.'

He turned to Elizabeth.

'Your father captured the key from the pirates. He hoped the dangerous or powerful objects that are stored here would be kept away from his enemies... but he couldn't let go because he wanted to use the power of the Needle to keep you safe. Your father's a good man and he loves you very much, but he took a risk when he decided to keep it...'

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully.

'Perhaps he should have let it go?' Darnell said quietly.

'Drivel!' grunted Mercy. 'A foolish story for children!'

'So what are you looking for then?' Darnell asked. 'Lost a sock in here did you?'

The Captain laughed.

'I want what should have been mine,' the pirate said angrily. 'I was going to rule over half the world as the King's right hand man. Servants and gold and land. It would all have been mine... but something happened and he was taken from me and all our plans were swept away. I just want something that will bring him back or tell me where he's gone.'

'You want to turn back the clock and bring the great pirate fleet back together again?'

'I want them all dead!' Mercy shouted as he glared at the teacher. 'The governor, the navy, and every pathetic fool who has ever stood in my way... and somewhere in this room is the answer... In fact I'll take it all! Every weapon, every secret, every mystic charm or source of power - and I'll wage war on the entire world if I have to. I will have my revenge!'

Darnell nodded slowly as he listened.

'This room is filled with temptations for a broken mind,' he said sadly. 'Clocks that control time, potions that turn entire cities into mindless slaves, books that suck out your soul. That old warrior created a place where the most dangerous treasures of the Circle Sea could be stored safely... but he forgot to throw away the key... but we can correct that now, can't we, Miss Elizabeth?'

Everyone turned to look at the Governor's daughter, who had taken the amber heart from her neck and was holding it up by the chain.